Karen

Five Kitten Steps to Purr-Fect Black Cat Eyeliner

July 15th, 2014 by Karen 17 Comments

I love the look of crisp black cat eyeliner…

And that’s not just because I’m a card-carrying CCL (although I admit that’s a contributing factor).

I just think it’s timeless, elegant and pretty much goes with everything.

Still, sometimes, like when Tabs is threatening to shred my ankles if I don’t immediately drop everything I’m doing to prepare his morning gravy, I’m not in the mood to concentrate and fuss over getting those jagged edges crisp and clean.

So, what’s a liner-loving cat lady to do when she wants a cool cat eyeliner look but doesn’t have the wherewithal to fret over getting sharp, crisp lines?

Answer: incorporate a black powder eyeshadow into her cat eyeliner routine by following these five easy steps.

1. Now we’re gel-ing!

When I do this trick, which is a path to a softer, easier cat eyeliner look, I start by lining my eyes with gel liner using an angled liner brush, and the way it turns out, you can probably see that the edges could use some extra refining.

2. Clean that brush

Gotta make sure my tools are in tip-top shape for this next part, so before smoothing out the edges I created in step one, I clean the same angled liner brush I just used by swiping it across a paper towel to remove any excess product.

3. Loading zone

Next, I load the brush with a black powder eyeshadow, and tap the head against something (like the side of the sink, or I’ll just tap it with my finger) to remove some of the excess and any little wayward bits.

Products I used for these pics…

Gel liner — Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in Blackest Black

Black eyeshadow — NARS Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow in Sycorax

Angled eyeliner brush — NARS Angled Eyeliner Brush 47

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Is This Tomato Heaven?

July 15th, 2014 by Karen 14 Comments

My tomato plants are having a moment!

Especially the romas and cherry tomatoes.

It’s like all of them suddenly ripened overnight. BOOM! I’ve got a bumper crop.

I just picked these, and I seriously cannot wait to eat them. 🙂

What should I do with them??

Contemplating Classy Cheek Color With the New Laura Mercier Cheek Mélange Blush in Sensual Reflections

July 15th, 2014 by Karen 11 Comments

Wearing the new Laura Mercier Cheek Mélange in Sensual Reflections, from the Sensual Reflections fall 2014 collection), on my cheeks

You know, as I sit here thinking about it — reflecting, if you will — it makes sense that Laura Mercier’s new $42 Cheek Mélange Blush is called Sensual Reflections, because it’s part of the upcoming fall Sensual Reflections collection.

But…when I wear it and see myself in the mirror, I feel like it should have been called Quiet Reflections instead.

Like, I should be sitting quietly under a willow tree by a pond and contemplating the meaning of life.

“Tabby, or not tabby, that is the question.”

And, uh…I don’t exactly think of myself as a “sensually reflective” kind of person. Really, I feel about as sensually reflective as a rind of parmesan cheese, but that’s neither here nor there.

Sensual Reflections, with the way its satin finish softly shines, is one of those beautiful blushes that makes an understated statement, and with hints of peach, plum and gold, it works on most every skin tone, whether used as a blush or a highlighter.

It’s one of the limited edition pieces in the Sensual Reflections collection, and I think it’s the most striking piece in the entire launch.

I mean, just look at that pretty pan! It looks like a closeup of a cosmos flower…

You’re supposed to mix the peachy pink beige, golden beige and sheer plum together, and apply the combined color to your cheeks for a natural, flattering glow.

This blush is all about the finish, which is sort of halfway between satin and sheer. The finely-milled powder reflects light evenly and subtly when it’s on my cheeks — glowing, but not looking frosty at all (great for gals/guys of all ages). You end up looking like you just left the spa and had a facial done by the World’s Best Esthetician. 🙂

Also, because it isn’t too heavily pigmented, you won’t end up with crazy clown cheeks (an added plus!).

Laura Mercier Cheek Melange Sensual Reflections — Additional makeup worn in this look: Laura Mercier Satin Matte Eye Colours in Plum Allure, Gold Seduction and Sensual Pink (also from the Sensual Reflections collection), Laura Mercier Kohl Eye Pencil in Black Gold and theBalm Read My Lips Lip Gloss in Snap

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What Are Your Top 5 Summer Makeup Must-Haves Right Now?

July 15th, 2014 by Karen 26 Comments

Now that we’re sweating in summer’s hot-and-heavy embrace (it sure has been hot here lately), I’ve been wondering about your makeup.

Actually…I’m always wondering about your makeup, but I needed a lead this morning. 🙂

When it’s hot like this and all of the plants on my deck garden are wilting, I take a more minimalist approach to my makeup (well, minimalist for me, haha).

Here are my top five favorite makeup minimalist products right meow…

MAC Face & Body Foundation — Like Tabs when he’s sleeping on the bed, the lightweight formula absolutely refuses to move, even when I get really sweaty. To sweat it’s like, “What!? Is that all you got!?”
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural — LOVE this, whether on its own or layered on top of Face & Body, and dang if it doesn’t look like real skin (it isn’t overly powdery).
Guerlain Cils D’Enfer Waterproof — Curl hold like WHOA! — and a single layer turns my wimpy Bruce Banner lashes into volumized Hulk-caliber lashes.
Chanel Malice Blush — Easy, effortless and awesome with peach, pink or coral lip colors. Great staying power, too.
Yeah, I’m rather obsessed with this at the moment!
Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray — Even when I’m not wearing much makeup, I still want the makeup I am wearing to stay in place, and this spray locks it down.

How about you? What are your top five summer makeup must-haves right now?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The New Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadows: The Brights

July 14th, 2014 by Karen 15 Comments

Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow (2)

More Bella Eyes Gel Powder newness from Milani. This time, brights! (Here are the neutrals.)

Top row from the left, that’s Bella Violet, Bella Purple, Bella Rouge and Bella Fuchsia. Second row, that’s Bella Rose, Bella Pink and Bella Mandarin. Third row, the blues, that’s Bella Navy, Bella Cobalt, Bella Teal and Bella Sky. And bottom row, the two greens, that’s Bella Khaki and Bella Emerald.

These bright beauties are available now online and at drugstores for $3.99 each.

With the New NARSissist Smokey Eye Kit, You’ll Have All Eyes on You

July 14th, 2014 by Karen 13 Comments

Honestly, though, I don’t blame you for your NARSissicism. I understand, I really do. That would be like blaming Tabs for being beautiful or the sky for being blue.

No, I blame the NARSissist Smokey Eye Kit ($59), that gorgeous three-piece palette in front of you. 🙂

With a matte beige, a deep matte brown and a shimmery golden brown eyeshadow (as well as a miniature black liner and a travel-sized contouring brush) in it, really, how could you not get NARSissistic on that @ss?

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Only My Cat Understands Me

July 14th, 2014 by Karen 5 Comments

I feel this way sometimes…

OK, all the time.

A gift from my little brother.

Ha! He knows me so well.

Sunday Funday 5-Minute Makeup

July 14th, 2014 by Karen 16 Comments

Most of the time I’m happy to blend out 6 different eyeshadows, but sometimes…I simply don’t want to.

Like on the weekends (hey, man, it’s summer!). The last thing I want to be doing on a sunny summer Sunday is spend 20 minutes making those little circles in the outer corners.

Bluh…

That’s time I could be hiking or walking my cat or eating an ice cream cone outside.

So, along those lines, here’s the 5-minute makeup (using just one brush) I wore to run errands and hang out with my girlfriends last Sunday in SF (we went to a spa!).

It’s not fancy or fussy at all, but I think the whole thing still looks reasonably well put together.

5-Minute Sunday Funday Makeup — As easy as 1, 2, 3…

1. Good evening…skin

Evening, as in “evening out the skin.”

Since time is of the essence in a 5-minute makeup look, sheerer face products like BB creams, sheer foundations and tinted moisturizers are great (they make it easier to get away with mistakes than full-coverage, opaque products). They also make blending a whole lot easier.

Here I used MAC Face & Body in shade C5 and applied it with my fingers.

And, uh…because of that whole dark circle action happening under my eyes, I also used concealer, specifically a brightening concealer, YSL Touche Éclat in 4.5. It comes in brush pen packaging, which makes it really easy to swipe.

Then I blended that out with my fingers…

Sunday Funday 5-Minute Makeup: Products Used

Foundation: MAC Face & Body in C5

Concealer: YSL Touche Éclat in 4.5

Brow pencil: Tom Ford Brow Sculptor in Espresso

Waterproof eyeliner: Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Santal

Thickening Mascara: Guerlain Cils D’Enfer Waterproof Mascara

Blush: Chanel Joues Contraste Blush in Malice

Sheer Pink Lip Balm: Clarins Lip Balm Crayon in My Pink

Speaking of targeted brightening, I’m a big fan. 🙂 So, for some extra highlighting on my skin, I also swiped Touche Éclat in the middle of my forehead, down the bridge of my nose, just above my Cupid’s bow, and around the corners of my mouth, blending all of that in with my fingers.

2. Define the eyes

We’re looking for big impact steps here because we don’t have much time (just 5 minutes), and with eyes, I like filling in my brows, because I think does a lot for the overall look, and adding some thickness along the upper lash line, which I think just makes you look more awake.

I used a brow pencil that has a brow brush on one end (that’s some tool efficiency right there!), quickly filling in the outer tail and middle portions of my brows but leaving the inner portion alone (just to save a little time, but I think it also looks more natural).

To thicken your upper lash lines, grab one of your go-to waterproof pencils. This way you can skip eye primer (ding-ding-ding!), saving you even more time.

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